Customer Reviews

PHR Exam Prep: Professional in Human Resources

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This was my main study source for the PHR, being that I didn't have $600 to drop on the "Learning System". I passed with a 651 (got about 92% of the questions right).I don't believe there is any one study source that will give you everything you need--but if you spend time with this book, make yourself some flashcards and spend a good couple of months with them before the exam, you'll be 85% of the way there. It's really pretty inclusive.

I'd say get through this book, then take the HRCI practice exam to see what you need to research further. Using ONLY this book, I passed the practice exam with 86% of the questions right. Also, take every practice test you can get your hands on--search SHRM's HRCI message board for a bunch of good links. The tests may include terms/concepts with which you're not familiar and you can research those further.

Speaking of practice tests, I found the ones included in the book and CD-rom helpful--however, the other reviewers are right in that there are quite a few mistakes. One star off for that-might have given it 5 otherwise. However, for the most part they're obvious enough that you'll pick up on them and they're more annoying than likely to confuse you(e.g., question will ask you to identify "the one incorrect choice"; answer guide will say "the one CORRECT choice is...") Too bad more time wasn't spent on proofing instead of including last-minute tacky references to Hurricane Katrina (book was published towards the end of last year).

Good luck to all taking the exam in Dec-Jan--give yourself a good 3 1/2 -4 months to study and YOU CAN DO IT!!!

I just took the PHR exam (and passed) last week and wanted to review the books I used. I found this Pearson guide to be the least helpful of all the books. It was not organized well, went into too much detail on some things and left out other points and was just way too cumbersome for test prep. It's a big book with a lot of text and has much too much in it to make anyone feel confident in their preparation. While I absolutely believe you should use more than one source (3-4 is optimal), I would say this one didn't add anything for me. Skip it!

General PHR Prep Advice: Use the Ann Bogardus PHR/SPHR book as your primary PHR test prep book. The Kaplan test prep book is light on the content but drills down to the big things very simply. I recommend reading the sections in Kaplan along with Bogardus. Kaplan has a few practice tests that are helpful. I also recommend getting a straight forward HR text book-- something that explains HR terms/concepts/legislation, etc with out the slant of the exam itself. Finally, take practice tests to familiarize yourself with questioning and to drill down to things you need to keep learning. It's a ton of content and I think there is little chance of knowing it all, but by using a variety of sources, you can cover your bases better.

This book is excellent, it hits all key points for the PHR Exam. It would be very useful for someone that does not have a HR degree or it has been a while since you graduated from college. Also, if you do have a HR degree and recently graduated from college, it is a great review tool. Even though I have a Bachelors in Business Administration, and recently graduated, I learned new information about HR! Plus, you cannot beat the price!

The sample test was different than the true prep test, but it prepared you well. The PHR exam was easier than I expected. It was not as theoretical as the book. I would definitely read this book, do all the exercises. Bottom line - you have to study for the exam, at least 40 or 50 hours. My collegues that did not put in the hours did not pass the test... regardless of the study aids.

I bought this book and the SHRM Learning System to help me prepare for the test, which I passed. The Learning System came with six individual books for each module, and I was surprised how well this one book compared to the whole SHRM set. I was a little disappointed, however, with the practice test in the back and the CD software. I suppose it might be a nit-picky complaint, but some of the given answers did not match up with the question. For example, there is a question that asks for you to compute the average of a set of numbers. There is one answer given in the answer key that is wrong, and then the written explanation has yet a different answer. Then, when reading through the explanation they are explaining why a certain answer is the mode, not the mean that the question asked for. This also happened with the questions on the software. I couldn't understand why "two" was an incorrect answer to the question of how many full time or equivalent employees an executive exemption was responsible for when I realized that the question referred to "executive" but the answer referred to "administrative" exemptions. It could be awfully confusing to someone who isn't all that familiar with some of the topics. I know I was devistated for a few minutes that I apparently couldn't calculate a simple average until I caught the problem.

Long story short, it's a good investment for what, less than $40? It makes a great complement to other resources (as mentioned earlier, no one resource has it all) but just check and double-check yourself when taking the tests to make sure you're not learning something incorrectly.

This is an excellent, "must-have" resource for anyone preparing to sit for the PHR certification exam. In addition to being well written and logically organized, it is authored by none other than Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations' Director of Human Resources Management Programs, Ms. Cathy Lee Gibson, SPHR. Ms. Gibson's down-to-earth and practical preparation approach will assist PHR test candidates in not only building a comprehensive knowledge base but in acquiring the confidence they will need to achieve a successful outcome.

Whether a seasoned human resources professional or someone fairly new to the field, why not enhance your potential for success by enlisting Ms. Gibson to serve as your personal PHR testing coach? As an attorney who has successfully passed bar examinations in multiple state jurisdictions, I can attest to the subject-matter mastery and confidence derived from appropriate study-preparation and test-taking strategies. Ms. Gibson's comprehensive book serves both of these objectives equally well. Blending both her practical human resources executive experience of more than 20 years in both the private- and public-sectors with the highest academic standards of her Ivy League University employment background, Ms. Gibson is uniquely qualified to assist PHR test candidates prepare for certification.

Some of the "features" offered by Ms. Gibson in her book include "exam alerts." These are particularly helpful in assisting PHR test candidates to focus on those concepts, terms and activities that will most likely appear on the PHR exam.

Additionally, Ms. Gibson's book is filled with the following useful and practical tools:

· chapter summaries
· key terms
· chapter summaries
· review questions
· exercises designed to reinforce instructional concepts
· suggested readings and resources
· review-exam answers and explanations
· study and exam tips
· "fast facts" covering key points
· extensive glossary
· practice exam
· quick-reference objectives for easily and quickly finding subjects you want to see immediately

Simply stated, don't pass up this opportunity to partner with Ms. Gibson as you prepare for your PHR certification. Her knowledge and expertise will help you to advance your professional career to the next level of excellence!

This study guide was a good economical choice compared to the SHRM Certification Test Course, which retails for about $500.00. Since the exam cost me about $200.00, I took my chances and ordered this book and another that focused on both PHR and SPHR. I primarily used this book and I passed!
I am a Business Administration Major with an emphasis in Human Resources. This book was extremely useful as a review. I gave myself one month to prepare for the exam... I strongly recommend at least two. There is a lot of useful information contained in this book. The author suggests researching key terms and other subjects not explained in the book. I strongly recommend listening to her. I dug out my text books and utilized the internt.
My advice is to buy the book, give yourelf plenty of time to study, and focus on the employment laws mentioned in the book.

This book is not an exam prep. It surprises me that the publisher even gets away as describing it as an exam prep. The problem is that the book contains entirely too much "fluff" and not enough specific instruction on exactly what is needed for the exam. For example, in chapter 7 under "Exam Alert" it gives a list of terms and names needed for the exam, but DOES NOT GIVE YOU THE DEFINITIONS! This book may be somewhat useful as a reference guide for HR generalists to use on the job, but it is by no means a useful study guide for the PHR exam.

This book is an excellent resource for preparing for the PHR exam. I would not count on using it exclusively, but when combined with other available resources, it has much to offer in exam preparation. Not only does the book provide a great deal of human resources information, it also provides tips for studying, preparing, as well as many practice questions to let you know you where you need extra effort. I know this book helped me in passing my exam.

It doesn't have the in depth core information needed to pass solely on this book. It is a good supplement to the SHRM materials, but not a substitute. It omitted a lot of info that's on the PHR test.